Baseboard diffuser



June 18, 1957 w. c. DE ROO 2,796,016

BASEBOARD DIFFUSER Filed March 12, 1954 I; 7 mmvrozc WILLIAM 'C. DEROO WWW M June 18, 1957 w. c. DE R00 2,796,016

BASEBOARD DIFFUSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1954 INVENTOR. WILLIAM C. DEROO BY WW 2??? June 18, 1957 w, 3, DE 00 2,796,016

' BASEBOARD DIFFUSER Filed March 12, 1954 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IV R- WILLIAM C. DER

United States atent O BASEBOARD DIFFUSER William C. De R00, Holland, Mich, assignor to Hart &

Cooley Manufacturing Co., Holland, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1954, Serial No. 415,922

Claims. (Cl. 98-40) Thi invention relates in general to improvements in baseboard diffusers for the diffusion of air along the wall of a room whether the air be warm for use during cold weather or cold such as that used for air conditioning in warm weather.

Baseboard diffusers have been designed heretofore for use along the baseboard of the wall of the space to be heated or cooled. In practically all instances the diffuser has been designed to have a substantially rectangular cross-section, where the air enters from the rear, which has necessitated the use of adjusting means between the front and rear sections of the diffuser to adjust the outlet space therebetween in order that an efficient pattern of air may be obtained. 3

The present invention, although it may, if desired, be utilized in connection with adjustable means to adjust the outlet space, may also be used in connection with nonadjustable spacer means inasmuch as the air pattern as well as the efficiency of the present design has been found to be improved.

The invention is also more specifically directed to a baseboard diffuser assembly which includes end cover members adapted to cover the open ends of the diffuser, as well as a new and novel form of strap means adapted to be placed over the joint or abutting ends of the baseboard sections, thereby to conceal any rough edges which might be present due to the cutting of the baseboard section by the person installing the same.

Baseboard diffusers of the character herein disclosed are customarily placed along the baseboard of a wall and are adapted to extend from wall to wall if desired. The front section of the diffuser may be made in different lengths so that a total of any desired lengths within a room may be had. It is desirable to close both end of the diffuser whether or not they abut opposing walls and it is also desirable to conceal the abutting ends of adjacent lengths of the difiuser.

The invention also embodies the use of a novel form of spacer means to be applied quickly and easily between the front and rear sections of a baseboard diffuser and this particular improvement has been made the subject matter of a separate application for patent by me which was filed August 12, 1953, and bears Serial No. 373,734.

From a consideration of the foregoing it is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a baseboard diffuser of novel form which overcomes all of the disadvantages enumerated above with respect to similar diffusers presently known.

Another object of the invention is to provide a base board diffuser which has a predetermined contour on the front face thereof which is designed substantially to increase the efficiency thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a baseboard diifuser which is designed to allow free movement of air by folding the air into a proper shape for eflicient transmission through the base and reducing expansion and I contraction of the air which in diffusers presently in use are a needless expenditure of energy.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a baseboard diffuser wherein a back section and a front section are disposed in spaced relation to each other and wherein at least a portion of the front section is curved preferably on the arc of a circle, thereby providing less resistance to air flow and increasing the efficiency thereof. Still another object of the invention is to provide a baseboard diffuser assembly wherein front and rear sections thereof are positioned in spaced relation and wherein a novel form of end closure member is provided to seal the normally open ends thereof.

A still further and specific object of the invention is to provide a baseboard diffuser assembly wherein abutting ends of the individual lengths of sections are concealed by a novel form of clip which may be quickly and easily applied as well as removed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which--- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a room illustrating the baseboard diffuser of the present invention applied along one wall thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a baseboard diffuser embodying the present invention illustrating the two sections thereof in place and one form of end closure member in position to be applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the assembled diffuser embodying the invention and illustrating one type of spacer means;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of spacer member;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the spacer member shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the spacer member of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the spacer member of Fig. 5 showing the manner of its application to the front section of a diffuser;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the spacer member shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view along the inner upper edge of the front section of a diffuser showing the means by which the spacer member of Fig. 5 may be attached thereto;

Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrammatic illustrations of the cross-section of the baseboard diffuser and the manner of calculating the area thereof;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a baseboard diffuser assembly illustrating a modified form of end closure member applied thereto and showing also the strap for concealing the joint between sections;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the outer face of the end closure member and its manner of application to the end of the diffuser;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the end closure member shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and

Fig. 15 is an exploded view illustrating two lengths of sections with the concealing strap member therebetween. Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted in Fig. 1 that the baseboard diffuser assembly in general is indicated by the numeral 1 and is applied along one wall 2 of a room or space to be either heated or cooled. The

section 4 consists of a rear wall 5 and a forwardly ex tending bottom wall 6 terminating in an upwardly extending flange 7. The top edge of the rear wall extends forwardly for a short distance as at 8 and then terminates in a downwardly extending flange 9. This back section 4 may be applied to the wall in any desired manner but it is to be noted that one of the advantages thereof is that it can be applied immediately below the studding 10 so that the portion of the top flange 8 which protrudes beyond the studding may act as a base and guide for the plaster 11.

The front section generally indicated at 12 is curved generally in an arc having a predetermined radius. This arcuate front face 13 of the front section 12 has at its lower edge an upwardly extending return-bent portion 14 which terminates in a downwardly extending returnbent portion 15 spaced from the portion 14 a sufficient distance to receive the upturned flange 7 of the back section.

The face 13 extends upwardly and rearwardly in the form of an arc from its lower edge and toward the rear wall 5 and has a substantially vertically extending top edge portion 16 terminating in a return-bent portion 17. The air outlet space 3 is formed by the terminal flange 9 of the back section and the return-bent portion 17 on the front section.

Suitable spacer members may be secured at spacedapart points along the length of the front and back sections to maintain the two sections in spaced relation. In most cases at the present time these spacer members are made adjustable so that the width of the space 3 can be adjusted at different points for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of air flow. It has been found that by the use of the present design such adjustment is not necessary although it may be used if desired. Any suitable form of Spacing means can be used, the one illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 including a sleeve member 18 extending between the flange 9 and the return-bent portion 17 and secured in place by means of a screw 19.

With this construction it is preferable to have the air enter the diffuser from the bottom through the base member 6 such as by means of an opening 20 therein. Thus, the air duct will be connected at this opening 20 and the air passing therethrough and into the diffuser will have free movement and will be efficiently transmitted through the diffuser.

Another form of spacing means is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive. This is the form referred to above as having been made the subject matter of another application. This spacing member may be applied without the use of tools and is in the form of a spring clip indicated generally by the numeral 21. This spacer is formed or stamped from a thin strip of metal. and includes a substantially vertically disposed wall 22 at one end thereof. The body of the spacer then continues from the wall 22 in an arcuate section 23 for a short distance and is then bent upwardly at an angle toward the outer wall 22 to provide the flat section 24. The upper end of section 24 is then bent into a substantially U form as at 25 to provide U-shaped recess 26 extending transversely of the spacer. The device then terminates in a substantially flat section 27 which extends toward the wall 22 and terminates closely adjacent thereto. It is thus evident that the arcuate portion 23 will allow a flexing of the sections 24 and 27 containing the recess 26 therebetween to simplify the application of the spacer to the front and rear section of the diffuser.

The wall 22 is provided with an integral tongue 28 which is stamped therefrom so that it is substantially parallel to and spaced from the wall 22. A second and smaller tongue 29 is also stamped from the wall 22 and extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom.

Thespacer member or spring clip 21 is appliedto the diffuser through an opening 30 provided in the returnbent portion 17 at the upper part of the front section 12.

Figs. 4 and'7 illustrate the manner of applying the spacer 21 wherein it will be noted that the tongue 28 is first inserted through the opening 30 and is then moved upwardly so that part of the return-bent portion 17 immediately above the opening 30 will be received within the space between the tongue 28 and the upper part of the wall 22. The tongues 28 and 29 are so spaced and proportioned that with the clip in this position the lower tongue 29 may enter the opening 30 and rest upon the bottom edge thereof, thereby to prevent an inadvertent downward move of the spacer.

In this position the spacer will have the appearance of that indicated in solid lines in Fig. 7. Movement of the upper part of the front section 12 toward the flange 9 on the rear section will cause the portions 24, 25 and 27 of the spacer to flex downwardly to the position shown in the dot-dash lines of Fig. 7. In this position the lower edge of flange 9 may be received within the recess 26 as shown in Fig. 4, thereby maintaining the two sections in assembled relation and properly spaced apart so that the air will be distributed through the slot or space 3 between the two sections of the diffuser.

Both forms of spacer means described above are nonadjustable since it is unnecessary to provide adjusting means to vary the Width of slot 3 when the particular size and cross-sectional shape of the diffuser constituting the present invention is used. Adjustable spacer members, however, can be used if desired without impairing the efliciency of the diffuser embodying the present invention, it being the cross-sectional shape and area which creates the efficiency rather than any regulation of the size of the outlet slot 3.

One of the features of the present invention in addition to the novel cross-sectional configuration of the diffuser involves the structure of the end closure members which are applied to the ends of the diffuser whether the device terminates adjacent a wall or terminates in spaced relation to the wall. There has been disclosed herein two specifically different types of end closure members which are similar in general appearance but which have specific structural differences to enable them to be applied to the diffuser in different ways.

In Fig. 2 for example, one of the end closure members is illustrated and is identified generally by the numeral 31. It will be understood that the end members 31 will be formed to be applied to the right and left hand ends of the diffuser. The closure member 31 consists of a plate member 32 having an inwardly extending and vertically disposed flange 33 along the rear edge thereof. A bottom flange 34 extends inwardly from the lower edge of the plate 32 and an arcuate flange 35 also extends inwardly from the front curved edge of the plate 32. The curvature of this front edge and of the flange 35 corresponds to the curvature of the front section 13 of the baseboard diffuser. The lower end of flange 35 terminates short of the bottom flange 34 to provide an opening or space 36 to receive the return-bent portions 14 and 15 at the bottom of the front section 13 when the closure member 31 is assembled with the diffuser.

The plate 32 has an upwardly extending straight edge at the upper part of the flange 35 corresponding to the upwardly extending flange 16 on the diffuser section 13. The flange 37 extends inwardly from this upper straight edge and is provided with a relatively narrow projection 38.

The upper edge of plate 32 at the rear thereof has an inwardly extending flange 39. When this closure member 31 is applied to the end of the baseboard diffuser as shown in Fig. 2 the flanges 33 and 34 will be positionedto contact the inner surfaces of the rear and bottom portions 5 and 6 of the rear section 4 of the diffuser. The arcuate flange 35 will bear against the inner surface of the curved section 13 and flange 39 will bear against the inner surface of the upper forwardly extending flange 8-of-the rear section 4. The projection 38 onthe flange 37 will be received between the upper flange 16 and its return-bent portion 17 of the front section 13.

It is thus apparent that closing the normally open ends of the baseboard diffuser made up of the two sections 4 and 12 by means of the closure member 31, this latter member will be substantially concealed and yet will need no external fastening means to secure it in place in association with the sections of the diffuser. All of the inwardly extending flanges on the plate 32 will bear snugly against the corresponding parts of the diffuser and the flange 37 will be frictionally held between the portions 16 and 17 so that the member may not be readily or inadvertently removed. In applying the closure member disclosed in Fig. 2 to one end of a diffuser, it will of course be necessary to fix the member in position thereon prior to locating the assembled diffuser in place if the end thereof is to bear against one wall of the space to be air-conditioned. It may be desirable in certain instances to first place the diffuser in location and thereafter close the ends thereof. In this event the end closure member illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 may be utilized. In these latter figures the modified form of closure member is indicated generally by the numeral 40. It also has a plate member 41 having substantially the same outline or configuration as the cross-section of the assembled baseboard diffuser. The rear vertical edge thereof is provided with an inwardly extending flange 42. The upper edge thereof has an inwardly extending flange 43 and the upper vertical edge has an inwardly extending flange 44. The arcuate flange 45 corresponds with the arc of the front section 13 and extends continuously from the bottom edge of flange 44 to the bottom edge of the plate 41.

With this form of closure member it will not be concealed, as described above with respect to Fig. 2, but will be exposed and will have the appearance like that shown in Fig. 12.

In applying this end member, it is initially positioned above the baseboard diffuser at one end thereof as illustrated by the dot-dash lines in Figs. 12 and 13. By a downward movement the closure member may be applied to the end of the assembled diffuser. Thus, the closure member may be readily applied and maintained in position also without the use of any external fastening means and without the use of any tools.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel form of concealing strip which may be readily applied to the joints or abutting ends of adjacent diffuser sections for the purpose of concealing the joint and thus improving the general appearance and efficiency of the diffuser itself. Again, the application of this concealing strip may be done without the use of any fastening means or tools and is so designed that it may be applied readily at proper locations to perform the necessary function thereof.

This concealing strip is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 15 by the numeral 47. It is formed of a strap of relatively thin metal having a generally curved portion 48 which conforms to the curvature of the outer section 13 of the diffuser. The upper end of this curved portion 48 extends upwardly, as at 49, and then terminates normally in an outward extension as shown by the dot-dash lines at 50. The extension 50 may be bent downwardly by hand after application thereof and the space between the portions 49 and 50 is such as to receive the upper edge of the front section 13 formed by the flanges 16 and 17. The lower edge of the curved portion 48 is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly extending hook portion 51 which is adapted to receive the lower edge of front section 13.

When more than one length of diffuser sections needsto be used along one wall, then two or more sections may be located in abutting end-to-end relation. When this occurs, the concealing strips 47 are utilized to conceal the joint between adjacent sections. In applying this strip it is initially placedinposition so that the hook 51 will receive the lower edge of front section 13. The upper end 50 thereof is then bent downwardly into place around the upper edge of front section 13 as shown in full lines in Fig. 13. The strip is then in its proper place for concealing the joint between adjacent diffuser sections and may be painted or otherwise disguised to present a neat appearance to the finished installation.

It will thus be evident thatin addition to designing a novel baseboard diffuser which has a fundamentally new design, there has also been incorporated as a part of the invention the end closure members and the concealing strip, all of which cooperate with each other in the final assembled product to produce a baseboard diffuser which is not only efficient in its operation and neat in its appearance, but which also may be assembled with a minimum amount of time the use of a minimum number of tools. Actually, the only time in the complete assembly operation where tools need to be used may be in the assembly of the spacer means of the type shown in Figs. 2 and 3. If, however, the spacer means are in the form of the spring clip shown in Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive, then there will be no need for any tools whatsoever as far as the assembly of the various parts is concerned.

As stated hereinabove, the cross-sectional configuration of the baseboard diffuser of the present invention is such as to produce the greatest efiiciency for any given speed of air travel through the duct and into the diffuser. The size and total cross-sectional area of the diffuser are critical within certain given limits. It has been determined by actual tests that when the height, width and curvature of the diffuser disclosed herein are changed to any great degree, the efficient distribution pattern of the air is lost.

It may be stated here by way of example that actual tests have been run on a diffuser wherein the over-all height was approximately 4% inches and the width at the bottom was approximately 2% inches with a radius of curvature of the face 13 being substantially 5 inches and the efliciency of air transmission through such a diffuser was greater than in any other known form of baseboard diffuser.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a method which may be used in determining the crosssectional area of the diffuser having the foregoing approximate dimensions. In Fig. 10 the cross-section of the assembled diffuser is illustrated in outline and has been divided into certain areas which may be determined mathematically. For example, the geometric figure of Fig. 10 has been divided into separate areas identified respectively by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. The outer face 13 of the area A had a radius of curvature of 5 inches. Thus, in Fig. 11 there is illustrated a circle having a 5 inch radius with the base of the area A being equal to the distance GH. The vertical line FG corresponds with the vertical dotted line 52 in Fig. 10 and the area ,A can then be determined mathematically by first determining the area OFH and subtractmg from it the area OFG. In the model having the filIIllfHSlOl'lS recited above, this area A equalled 3.83 square inc es.

The areas respectively of the portions B, C, D, and B being rectangular are relatively simple to calculate and were determined as being 4.04 square inches, .18 square inch, .41 square inch, and .25 square inch, respectively. Thus, the total area was found to be 8.71 square inches.

The pressure loss described in terms of total pressure which is equal to the static pressure plus velocity pressure for this baseboard diffuser connected -to a 3%" x 12" duct through a reducing transition to an opening of 2%" x 14" where air enters the base from the bottom were as follows:

Total pressure at 130 C. F. M. equals .0548 of Water gauge Total pressure at C. M. F. equals .0410" of water gauge Total pressure at. 90 C. F. M. equals. .0260? ofwater gauge Total pressure at 70 C. F. M. equals .0165 of water gauge Total pressure at 50 C. F. M. equals .0083" of water gauge It was also determined that the widthof 2% inches at the base could be increased or decreased approximately 4 inch and the height of 4% inches could be increased or decreased inch without any serious decrease in the efficient transmission of air, provided a relatively gentle curvature substantially like that shown of the. front section is utilized.

The cross-section of the diffuser substantially like that shownand having an entrance from the bottom produces a condition which allows the free movement of air by folding the air into a proper shape for eflicient transmission throughthe baseand reduces the expansion and contraction of the air which occur in cross-sections of other types and which are needless expenditures of energy.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the invention here involves a design of baseboard diffuser which utilizes a relatively gentle curvature of the outer face thereof together with a proportion in size and cross-section area which has been foundby actual tests to greatly increase the eflicient transmission of air from an air duct into the space being heated or otherwise air-conditioned. The increased efliciency has been combined with certain features of construction which enable the ready assembly of the various parts withoutthe use of any tools, thus decreasing not only the cost of manufacture but the labor costs involved in installing the system.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts from those disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any ofthe attendant advantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope of the'claims appended hereto.

The inventionis hereby claimed as follows:

1. A baseboard diffuser comprising in combination, a back section including a rear upright wall, a forwardly extending bottom wall, and a forwardly extending top Wall terminating in a downwardly extending flange, a front section extending arcuately in an upwardly and rearwardly direction from the front edge of said bottom wall and terminating in a flange portion substantially parallel with said. first flange, the upper edge of said second flange terminating adjacent said top wall and in spaced relation thereto, and means connecting said first and second flanges to maintain them in said spaced relation.

2. A baseboard diffuser comprising in combination, a back section including a rear upright wall, a forwardly extending bottom wall, and a forwardly extending top wall terminating in a downwardly extending flange, a front section extending in an arc of a circle in an upwardly and rearwardly direction from the front edge of said bottom wall and terminating in a flange portion substantially parallel with said first flange, the upper edge of said second flange terminating adjacent said top wall and in spaced relation thereto, and means connecting said first and second flanges to maintain them in said spaced relation.

tom wall, and a. forwardly. extending top flange fer-- minating in a downwardly extending flange, said front section including an arcuatefront wall extending up wardly and rearwardly from the forward edge of said bottom wall and terminating adjacent said top flange in an upwardly extending flange spaced forwardly from said downwardly extending flange of said back section, means securing said back and front sections together along the forward edge of said bottom wall,.and means connecting the upwardly extending flange of said front section with said downwardly extending flange of said back section to maintain them in spaced relation.

4. A baseboard diffuser comprising in combination, a back section and a front section, said back section including an upright rear wall, a forwardly extending bottom wall, and a forwardly extending top flange terminating in a downwardly extending flange, said front section including a front wall curved on an arc of a circle having a predetermined'radius, and extending upwardly and rearwardly from the forward edge of said bottom wall and terminating adjacent said top flange in an upwardly extending flange spaced forwardly from said downwardly extending flange of said back section, means securing said back and front sections together along the forward edge-of saidbottom wall, and means connecting the upwardly extending flange of said front section with said downwardly extending flange of said back section to maintain them in spaced relation.

5. A baseboard diffuser assembly comprising in combination, a back section having a rear upright wall and a forwardly extending bottom wall, a front section extending upwardly from the front edge of said bottom wall and having at least a portion thereof curved rearwardly and terminating in a return-bent flange portion substantially parallel with and spaced from said rear wall, means to maintain said sections in spaced relation, and an end cover plate having an edge contour generally following the cross-sectional contour of said assembled sections, a flange around at least a portion of the edge of said cover plate adapted to underlie in abutting relation portions of said sections having similar contours, and a projection on a part of said flange adapted to be received within said return-bent flange portion thereof to maintain the cover plate in assembled relation therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,097 Hanson Jan. 7, 1936 2,355,629 Carrier Aug. 15, 1944 2,395,233 Richardson Feb. 19, 1946 2,516,871 Haugen Aug. 1, 1950 2,627,800 Brandes Feb. 10, 1953 2,656,156 Wilcox Oct. 20, 1953 2,662,747 Trane et a1 Dec. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 139,091 Sweden Feb. 10, 1953 853,964 France Dec. 23, 1939 

